Leadership lessons from the first presidential debateFormer Gov. Mitt Romney was the consensus winner over President Barack Obama in this week's presidential debate, writes Scott Eblin, and business leaders can take away some important lessons. Romney developed an aggressive game plan and stuck to it, while paying plenty of attention to his body language and overall self-presentation. "Romney had a clear picture of the impression he wanted to leave and followed through on it," Eblin writes. EblinGroup.com/Next Level Blog
(10/4)

You've got to keep on drumming, says DuPont CEODuPont chief Ellen Kullman got the keys to the corner office at the height of the financial crisis, and her first big challenge was to rally her workers. Persistent, clear messaging is the key to motivating during a crisis, Kullman says. "You just have to continue that drumbeat," she explains. CNNMoney/Fortune
(10/4)

Strategic Management

How Chobani ate Fage's lunchFage is Greece's top-selling yogurt brand and launched in the U.S. nearly a decade before rival Chobani, but today, Fage has just 14% of U.S. market share compared with Chobani's 47%. That's partly because of a botched marketing strategy that sought to cement Fage as a niche product rather than a mainstream brand. "Niche thinking is obsolete. ... There are either niche products that made it big (Greek yogurt) or niche products that never went anywhere," writes Al Ries. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model)
(10/3)

Innovation and Creativity

Are you innovating or just rebranding?Some of MillerCoors' recent and proudest innovations are novelties such as wide-mouthed beer bottles and keg-shaped cans, writes John Miziolek. That's a sign the company is whipping up interest in its brand rather than creating genuinely new and innovative products, Miziolek writes. Fast Company online
(10/4)

The Global Perspective

Can Formula 1 succeed in America?Formula 1 officials are planning to break into the American market after a five-year hiatus, with quirky boss Bernie Ecclestone promising to run an F1 race in New Jersey in 2013. "Will it work? It's certainly not a given," says F1 champion Sebastian Vettel. "This market is huge, but does America really care? I don't know." Vanity Fair
(11/2012)

The myth of developing-world entrepreneurialismSome of the biggest and most respected Western companies started in their founders' garages, but in the developing world, few startups blossom into corporations. That suggests many of the world's poorest entrepreneurs go into business only reluctantly and stay small even as their prospects improve. "We are kidding ourselves if we think they can pave the way for a mass exit from poverty," write researchers Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo. The Economist
(10/6)

Engage. Innovate. Discuss.

Stop trying to act like a leaderThe best leaders don't act out the role of a leader; rather, they allow leadership to emanate from their inner character, writes Mike Henry Sr. "By leading from who you are, and bringing life to your team, they bring life in return to you, your team and your customers," he writes. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership
(10/4)